Gene-based delivery of immune-activating cytokines for cancer treatment.

Tumors evolve together with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and reshape it towards immunosuppression. Immunostimulating cytokines can be used to revert this state leading to effective antitumor immune responses, but their exploitation as anticancer drugs has been hampered by severe toxicity associated with systemic administration. Local, TME-targeted delivery of immune activating cytokines can deploy their antitumoral function more effectively than systemic administration while, at the same time, avoiding exposure of healthy organs and limiting toxicity. Here, we review different gene and cell therapy platforms developed for tumor-directed cytokine delivery highlighting their potential for clinical translation.
Competing Interests: Declaration of interests L.N. is an inventor on patents on lentiviral vector technology filed by the Telethon Foundation and San Raffaele Scientific Institute. According to the respective institutional policies, inventors may be entitled to receive some financial benefits from the licensing of such patents. L.N. is a founder, owns equity, and is a consultant and member of the scientific advisory board of Genenta Science, a biotechnology company aiming at developing cancer gene therapy by targeted cytokine delivery by tumor-infiltrating monocytes. The other authors have no interests to declare.
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